A Tarrant County jury found 20-year-old Taymour Makarem guilty of murder today and sentenced him to 75 years in prison for the killing of a 17-year-old outside a QuikTrip on Little Road in Arlington. Prosecutors told jurors that Makarem fired seven shots at nearly point-blank range during an argument on July 16, 2023, then ran from the scene before officers arrested him nearby. The verdict closes out what prosecutors have described as the violent end to a months-long feud between the two young men.
DA Announces Verdict, Credits Investigators
In a post on X, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office announced the guilty verdict and 75-year sentence and wrote, "Special thanks to Detective Julia Hall and the Arlington Police Department for their work on this case and for their commitment to keeping our community safe," as posted by the Tarrant County DA. Court records and the county’s trial calendar list Assistant District Attorneys Madeline Jones and Melinda Hogan as the prosecutors on the case and identify Mike McGuire as the investigator and Imelda Lopez as the victim coordinator, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.
Special thanks to Detective Julia Hall and the Arlington Police Department for their work on this case and for their commitment to keeping our community safe. pic.twitter.com/YYHl1Ul5xf
— Tarrant County DA (@TarrantCountyDA) March 13, 2026
How Police Say the QuikTrip Shooting Happened
The Arlington Police Department’s homicide report states that officers responded around 8:17 p.m. on July 16, 2023, and found a 17-year-old male inside a car at the QuikTrip with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Arlington Police Department. Investigators reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements said Makarem argued with the victim before pulling a firearm and firing multiple rounds into the vehicle, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
What Jurors Heard at Trial
Prosecutors told jurors that the evidence showed Makarem fired seven rounds at nearly point-blank range, then hid the firearm and gave false statements about his whereabouts before officers detained him nearby. The case was tried in the 485th District Court and appeared on the county’s March trial calendar as a "Jury Out" case before the verdict, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.
Victim Identified as 17-Year-Old Brad Gruver
The victim was later identified as 17-year-old Brad Gruver by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office; family members had publicly appealed for witnesses after the July 2023 killing, according to The Dallas Morning News. Prosecutors and local officials thanked detectives and witnesses whose cooperation helped build the case.
What Comes Next for Makarem
Makarem will be transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to serve the 75-year sentence and still has the right to appeal his conviction. Officials said the lengthy term reflects both the severity of the crime and the evidence presented at trial.
